After entering Filkorn’s manor,

  Raelingrim first examined Lady Billing.

  "Professor Raelingrim, how is my wife faring?"

  Filkorn asked anxiously from the side.

  "Rest assured, Mr. Filkorn. Lady Billing is recovering splendidly. There’s no need for undue worry."

  Filkorn let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

  "Thank you. I’ll leave the rest to you, Professor."

  "It’s no trouble at all~."

  Raelingrim replied with a smile, then pulled out the potion Hulim had brewed.

  "Lady Billing, this is your dose for today. I believe after this, your condition will improve far more than it already has."

  "Thank you, Professor."

  Lady Billing drank the potion.

  Her previously frail frame instantly perked up, brimming with renewed energy.

  "Oh~, truly—its effects are nothing short of remarkable! If you don’t mind, Lady Billing, may I run some detailed tests to check your current condition?"

  "Of course, go right ahead."

  Raelingrim began a more thorough examination.

  Meanwhile, Filkorn and Alicia struck up a conversation.

  "Sir Filkorn, I’ve long heard that your wife has been in poor health, but what exactly is the issue? Needing long-term potion therapy suggests it’s no ordinary ailment, does it not?"

  "That is correct, Your Highness. This matter dates back quite a long time......"

  Filkorn explained,

  "Some years ago, my wife was accidentally afflicted by a curse. Though the Church helped lift the curse afterward, it left a severe chronic condition lingering in her body."

  "Ever since then, her vitality has been depleting naturally. Only potions that replenish vitality can sustain her."

  "I see. So the potion Hulim brewed is indeed of the vitality-replenishing variety."

  "Lady Hulim? Could it be that——"

  Filkorn looked at Hulim in astonishment.

  "Did Lady Hulim brew this batch of potion?"

  "That’s right! It was all Hulim’s doing! And it’s a superior-grade potion, no less!"

  Miko chimed in eagerly.

  "I-I’m truly sorry for my oversight, Lady Hulim. Please accept my sincere gratitude."

  "Mr. Filkorn, you flatter me. I was merely completing my exam."

  "Even so, the potion you brewed has helped my wife—that is an undeniable fact...... Still, this is utterly astounding."

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  "I’d heard before that Lady Hulim developed a revolutionary magic circle. Back then, I thought you were a genius in magic circles alone, but I never imagined you possessed such profound expertise in potions as well. I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes!"

  "Of course! Hulim’s a real genius!"

  Miko declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

  Hulim: "......"

  At that moment, Raelingrim finished testing the effects of the potion on Lady Billing.

  Filkorn hurried over and asked:

  "Professor Raelingrim, have you finished the examination?"

  "Yes. The effects of this potion are surprisingly excellent. With Lady Billing’s current condition, she won’t have any health issues for the next several months!"

  "Truly?! Thank you so much, Professor!"

  "Haha~, there’s no need to thank me. To be honest, I’m just as astonished by how well it worked."

  Raelingrim turned to look at Hulim.

  "Student Hulim, your potion-brewing skills have completely surpassed mine. Having studied potions for so many years, I’m almost ashamed~."

  "Professor, you’re too modest. I was able to brew it so well precisely because it was for an exam. If it were any other type of potion, I wouldn’t dare claim to be better than you."

  "Haha, is that so? Student Hulim, there’s no need to spare my feelings. I have absolute confidence in my judgment."

  "......"

  "Your Highness Alicia."

  Filkorn spoke up again at this point,

  "Since you’ve honored us with your presence, please do stay for the night. Allow me to properly host you. And of course, Princess Miko, Lady Hulim, and Professor Raelingrim as well—please do me the honor of accepting my hospitality."

  Alicia nodded.

  "Since you insist so kindly, Sir Filkorn, I shall have no reason to refuse."

  And so, Hulim and her companions decided to stay at Filkorn’s manor for the time being.

  ......

  Almost as soon as Hulim’s group arrived at Filkorn’s manor,

  a nobleman rode out of Langard.

  "Lord Crawford."

  A man dressed as an adventurer stepped forward and blocked the nobleman’s carriage.

  The guards raised their weapons, barring the adventurer’s path.

  "Who are you? What business do you have with me?"

  A voice called out from inside the carriage.

  The adventurer replied: "The Balance sent me to deliver this letter to you."

  "......"

  A deathly silence fell over the carriage interior.

  After a long while, a faintly trembling voice echoed from within:

  "Bring it in......"

  Receiving the order, the guards immediately took the letter from the adventurer. Having completed his errand, the adventurer turned and left without another word......

  Lord Crawford’s procession set off once more.

  Inside the carriage, Crawford clutched the letter in trembling hands. He took several deep breaths before finally tearing it open.

  After reading its contents, his face twisted into a mask of rage.

  In the next moment, he crumpled the letter into a ball and hurled it to the floor, growling through gritted teeth:

  "Must he wipe me out completely?!"

  After a long while,

  Crawford’s anger gradually subsided, replaced by a creeping sense of dread. In the end, he collapsed onto the sofa, drained of all strength.

  He stared listlessly at the crumpled letter on the floor.

  "Now that things have come to this...... I have no choice but to trust him, do I......"

  ......

  Outside Filkorn’s manor,

  Crawford’s procession arrived.

  Crawford climbed down from his carriage, and his eyes fell on the carriage with the royal insignia parked inside the manor grounds.

  "Hmm? There’s a member of the royal family here? Could it be the Ninth Princess......"

  Crawford frowned, confused as to why Alicia would be here. Was she paying a visit to her subordinate?

  After a moment’s thought, he set the matter aside for the time being. He had official business to attend to today—no matter who was present, his task still needed to be done.

  ......

  Inside the manor,

  "Greetings, Your Highness Alicia!"

  Crawford bowed to Alicia with a flawless noble’s courtesy.

  "No need for such formality, Lord Crawford. What official business brings you here today?"

  "I have official business indeed, Your Highness."

  Crawford replied, then turned to Filkorn standing nearby.

  "Mr. Filkorn, in accordance with imperial protocol, I’ve come here to conduct a formal inquiry regarding the recent incident. If you’re available, could you spare some time to speak with me?"

  "Of course. Minister of State, please follow me."

  With that, Filkorn turned to Alicia and apologized: "Your Highness, please forgive me for taking my leave temporarily. Feel free to wander the manor as you please."

  "It’s quite all right. Please go, Sir Filkorn."

  "Thank you, Your Highness. My dear, would you be so kind as to show Your Highness and our guests around the manor?"

  "Certainly. Leave it to me."

  "Then, Your Highness, I take my leave as well......"

  Crawford bowed once more,

  then departed alongside Filkorn.

  "Your Highness, and honored guests—please follow me......"

  And so, Alicia and her companions followed Lady Billing on a tour of the manor.